Lady Gunners look well placed to push for the WSL title

Man City and Chelsea favourites

Arsenal's Alex Scott is a key player

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By Zoe Vicarage
UPDATED 7:15PM, SEP 23 2017

Starts 7.45pm Friday

Since the Women’s Super League launched in 2011 the women’s game in England has witnessed significant growth and the league’s maiden winter season kicks off on Friday evening as Everton face Liverpool.

The Spring Series, won by Chelsea this year, was used to get players match-fit for the Uefa Women’s Euros.

Ten teams - Arsenal, Birmingham, Bristol City, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, Manchester City, Reading, Sunderland and Yeovil - will bid for their chance to lift the WSL trophy at the end of May.

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Chelsea have leading claims and under Emma Hayes's stewardship, the side have gone from strength to strength. With excellent forward Fran Kirby, Millie Bright and a host of other top players in their squad they are in a strong position to mount a challenge.

Reigning champions Manchester City have had a stranglehold on the silverware in recent years holding all three titles - WSL, Continental Cup and the FA Cup. But during the summer there have been big-name departures with striker Toni Duggan moving to Barcelona and right-back Lucy Bronze leaving for Lyon.

They have added striker Pauline Bremer to their squad but are without Carli Lloyd, who joined for this year’s Spring Series on a short-term deal. While they are joint-favourites with Chelsea to win the title, those departures could affect their bid.

Arsenal have had a productive off-season and manager Pedro Martinez Losa has brought in several new additions including exciting young Holland striker Vivianne Miedema, defender Josephine Henning and Jessica Samuelsson.

With those additions joining Jodie Taylor, Heather O’Reilly, Jordan Nobbs and Alex Scott, odds of 3-1 for Arsenal to win the league looks good given they were the only side to go unbeaten during the Spring Series.